Kool News Of The Karoli - 7 Mod Ci

Kool News of the Károli – 7 New Signs of Life from Central and Eastern Europe by Anne-Marie Kool Volume 2, issue 7 Email: [email protected] Skype: amkool

) Budapest - 1st November, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

'Do not say anything at school about what is discussed at home.' This sentence still goes on resounding in the minds of the participants of the international mission conference which was held in Hungary at the end of August. IAMS conference The 12th quadrennial world conference of the

International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS) took place in Hungary under the auspices of the Gáspár Károli Reformed University. A large part of the local organization fell to the staff of the Mission Institute. A few years ago a very specific decision was taken to hold the IAMS conference in a country in Central Europe and to have as the main theme of the conference, Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation, a theme which fits with the burning issues in the region. (See more: http://www.iams2008.com ) Over 250 participants from 44 countries attended the 2008 IAMS conference held in the beautiful Hungarian town of Balatonfüred along Lake Balaton. Six young women in mission In order to give the participants insight into life as a Christian during the Communist time, a number of young Central and Eastern European women participants were asked to tell something about their lives and that of their families, and in particular to reflect on what it meant to live as a Christian in an atheist system.

from left to right: Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit They shared the difficulty of not being able to tell anyone that your parents and your grandparents hold to the message and values of the Bible and attend church on Sundays, taking you along. This meant being treated as an outsider, being avoided as a child, not being able to play naturally with friends. This was so many years ago, yet still quite fresh in the memories of Vija, Olga, Tanya, Dorottya, Eszter and Edit as they shared their stories with us. The effects remain, even if you were only ten years old at the time. The shadows of the past have not yet disappeared. For the IAMS participants, it was a moving introduction into what went on behind the Iron Curtain.

-2Identity and reconciliation Of course there were other days hallmarked by introductions to the development of missions and missiological research. The central theme was constantly “Human identity and the Gospel of reconciliation”. In Christ we receive a new identity, which means that other identities disappear or slip into second place (cf. Gal. 3:2619). One of the fruits of this is that 'enemies become friends'.

Some of the fifty participants from Central and Eastern Europe along Lake Balaton

A world opens up... For the Mission Institute, as host, it was a very special experience to have so many guests for a whole week and to introduce them in various ways to Central and Eastern Europe. Gina, one of our students, expressed it like this,

'So many different people from different parts of the world: it was such an encouragement... It was wonderful to receive them. I was proud of my home country. It warmed me to see how they were surprised at the beauty of Lake Balaton, Budapest and the countryside... The conference helped me to broaden my vision of the Church of Christ.' For two days, Hungary was in the spotlight. On the first Sunday, many of the participants were guests in over 40 different churches in Budapest. Several of the IAMS participants were able to preach or to bring greetings from their home churches. It was a great time of sharing as a part of the world-wide body of Christ. During the conference, the participants were also given options in making “exposure visits˝ to give them insights into various Central and Eastern European ministries. It included visits to: several Roma/Gypsy mission projects; the interactive exhibition at the ˝House of Terror˝ (former headquarters of the Nazi militia and of the Communist secret police); a foundation center that offers a Christian approach to addiction and homelessness; and the Budapest Jewish community for a synagogue tour and open dialogue.

The theme and the stories from the region continue to resound in the minds of the participants. It was not just a conference you go to, pick up something, and then proceed to the order of the day. It is clear that participants were greatly affected by the conference. The idea of reconciliation is a powerful concept for these times. It was obvious by all the media attention, that the theme was relevant for many people. Hungary 'moral sacrificial lamb' Hungary is facing the burning question of reconciliation with the past. This has to do with the shadows of the past on all levels of society. I intended to send a ˝Kool News˝ shortly after the conference, but many things, including beginning a new academic year prevented it. Writing at this time with the present political/economic situation, it has taken on an extra charge. Recently, I read in a Dutch newspaper (NCR - 22nd October): 'Hungary is a moral sacrificial lamb. Hungarians no longer have any trust whatsoever in politics. This is seen with a vengeance now that the country is being hit by the credit crunch. The ultra-right is taking advantage of this dissatisfaction.' The questions which are now facing Hungary had been around for some time, visible in political debate, through the great conflict between government and opposition, and more under the surface among many Hungarians. With the credit crunch, many nerves seem to have been laid bare. This relates to several matters: economic growth is severely restricted in comparison with the surrounding countries; there is an urgent need for a revision of the health care system; there are issues relating to the future of education; and there are major questions about the way in which things are run. Many programs are at a standstill

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Opportunities for church and university The idea of Hungary as a 'sacrificial lamb' gives a wonderful opportunity for the church and the university to bring into the limelight the values for which they stand and to be an example for society. To teach the concept of reconciliation as taught in God's Word can address the situation faced in Hungary at this time. Unfortunately, in practice it is not (yet) the case that this task is being taken up. Mission as a ministry of reconciliation At The Mission Institute, we are trying to incorporate practical missiology into the lectures. Students have remarked that what they learn at the lectures is 'very useful in preparation for their future work as a minister'. Another student commented, 'I expected dry and boring teaching material. Instead of that I was given a wonderful new perspective on the church and missions.' Another remarked, 'The subject of missiology has taught me an openness, so that later when I am a minister, I will not only be concerned with those who come to church, but also with those who do not have any contact with the church. I have gained the courage to go and seek them out and talk to them about the gospel. In the future, I also want to find fellow workers and to equip them to do the same.' One of the classes being taught at the Mission Institute this semester is ˝Missions as a Service of Reconciliation˝. We discuss how reconciliation can be applied to our everyday life and how reconciliation affects our own identity in Christ and how we deal with conflicts? Another class that we offer to students at the university is linked with human identity. The students invite persons known to them from church and society for the purpose of asking about their belief system. They put questions to them such as why these people believe, and what gives them direction in their professions.

Students listen attentively to a Nigerian guest speaker

One of the first guests was a senior official from the Nigerian embassy and the pastor of the African Church in Budapest.

A personal note and some topics for prayer 1.Against the background of the crisis in Hungary, there is a strong tendency throughout society to turn back to forms of leadership which were widely applied under Communism. This situation does not pass the Church and the university by. Please pray for all the attempts which are being made to uphold the truth and to live in the Truth. 2. This autumn, elections are being held in the Reformed Church of Hungary for new Church leadership and for new bishops. Please pray that people will be elected who are an example in doctrine and in deeds and who are capable of leading the Church and the fellowships on the way of hope, faith and love. Pray that the Spirit of Reformation will continue to work with power, even today.

-43. Pray for the Károli University. Pray for the leadership of the university, for wisdom, dedication and perseverance, that the university may fulfill its important calling as a Christian university in a society which is becoming increasingly secularized. 4.Give thanks for the new team of the Missions Institute and for the lectures this semester and for the positive feedback from the students. Please pray that the students will be touched, and will be stimulated to follow Christ in all the areas of their life. Pray for the development and accreditation of new programs-not a simple matter at this time. The difficulties are not only in the area of the finances (no small challenge), but voices are also being raised in favor of tinkering with the equal rights of Christian education. 5.In these troubled times, with God's help and trusting in His strength and wisdom, I am trying to stand steadfast and to be a signpost for students and colleagues. Please pray especially for my role as the mentor of a new generation of preachers and teachers, who are posing missionary questions in the Church and university and studying them and trying to share their vision and knowledge with others. 2 Tim. 2:2.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

AnneAnne-Marie Kool

Anne-Marie Kool was seconded by the Reformed Mission League in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (GZB) in 1993 to the Reformed Church in Hungary, with the assignment to establish the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest. Since 1 September 2006 she is Professor of Missiology at the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. She is also actively involved in the Reformed Church in the high-rise residential area where she lives (Gazdagret, Budapest).

CIMS is still fully dependent on outside funding. If you would like to support the ministry of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University (KRE) you may send your tax-deductible gifts to: I.D.E.A Ministries, 4595 Broadmoor—Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, USA. We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to process online donations (for U.S. residents). Please visit www.ideaministries.org, and click on the “donate to IDEA˝ link. Then go to “OTHER” and type in the comments box “KRE/CIMS”. If you have any questions please call Robin Skestone at the Idea Ministries Grand Rapids office (tel. 616.698.8393). Please indicate that this donation is for the KRE/CIMS, otherwise we will not receive your contribution. Please also add the designation of your donation. The Karoli Gaspar Reformed University / CIMS, Kalvin ter 7.II, P.O. Box 73, 1461 Budapest, Hungary. Tel. +36 1 216 20 54/106. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].